Restoring brain function and protecting brain cells of people suffering from Parkinson's disease is the goal of a new double blind Phase 2b study evaluating CERE-120. Baylor College of Medicine is one of 11 major U.S. medical centers currently enrolling patients.

This study is testing the safety and potential benefits of an enhanced CERE-120 dosing regimen targeting two brain areas affected by Parkinson's disease. CERE-120 is a gene therapy product that delivers the gene for the neurotrophic factor neurturin to degenerating or dying dopamine neurons.

This study follows a completed Phase 1 study that demonstrated early safety of this approach.

Men and women between the ages of 35 and 70 who are diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease are eligible to sign up for the study. They must be experiencing motor complications despite adequate antiparkinsonian therapy but have stable symptoms. They must also be medically fit to undergo the study surgical procedure.

For more information, call senior research coordinator Wren Pratt at 713-798-8655 or email: wlpratt@bcm.edu.

Ceregene, Inc., a San Diego biopharmaceutical company, is sponsoring the study, which is partially funded by a $2.5M LEAPS (Linked Efforts to Accelerate Parkinson's Solutions) award from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.